Napoleon as First Consul

Well enough of musing , more painting required. So here we have Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul, Reviewing his Troops after the Battle of Marengo. From the painting by  Jean-Antoine Gros.

I found this Trent Miniatures figure I had aquired at York earlier this year and it was already undercoated , so while doing prep work on the first lot of Salute purchases decided to finish him off. Nice and colourful with the red coat. A very nice figure to paint.I used the Andrea Red set for for the coat.

 

 

Also been working on the first of the Old West building - check out the "One man and his trowel" tab

A couple of specials

Cleared the painting table ready for new projects. A rare (for me) Perry Napoleonic commander Colbert commander of the Dutch Lancers 1815. I had to tweak the figure, it had a lot of flash and cast lines,also  doing some proper cords and rackets for the Czapka, as the moulded ones are stuck down his neck - as if given his pose. Also replaced the sword with something somewhat less chunky - a curved  flattened steel pin, The casualty figure is a Front Rank one , with separate musket  again FR. I also had a play with the Silfur tufts adding a little PVA to the end of some and dusting in fine sand, and colouring for flower or weeds.

 Also completed the casualty eagle bearer for the Mamalukes.

 So that is the painting table completely empty for now, work on preparing a big batch of  the Mahdist forces commences next week, as well as a pile of horses for up upcoming cavalry units.

"Heads up, gentlemen, these are bullets, not turds". Colonel Major Louis Lepic

I created this rendition of the commander of the Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde Impériale as depicted by Édouard Detaille something like 15 years ago. This was one of my very first attempts at creating something unique and have always enjoyed looking at it!

He was originally modelled with winter groundwork as per the battle of Eylau , but has been changed over to years to see "active" service on the table - as if the "Gods" actually needs any extra help usually! 

The base casting was a Bicorne miniatures Carabinier if i remember correctly which had a fair bit of work on it to bend and twist (- heated it up in an oven  to get that little more pliability - seemed to work) and to get the uniform right . The horse also has all its furniture removed and replaced with wire, head turned and tail moved.

As I have decided to create the Grenadiers à Cheval sometime this year ( a full 40 figure Grand Manner unit) and I will find it inspiring looking at him, and look forward to doing them all the more.

Thanks Stephen for the "loan" - you might not get him back - I might hold him to ransom!

Antoine Charles Louis, Comte de Lasalle

Back to real Napoleonic painting with a figure I have had for while. Initially inspired by seeing a Doug Mason produced command stand many years ago. It pays homage to the painting by Edouard Detaille which depicts Lasalle at the Battle of Wagram, leading cuirassiers in his final charge - complete with pipe!

Extra work done to the  horses tail to give more movement, horses head moved and the original cast reins removed & replaced with flattened wire ones soldered into place on the bridle and into his hand.



Time for a little Xmas break - back next week after a few days offer. Merry Xmas One & All

Lt -Col Stanislaw Klicki

 As the Vistula lancers are nearing completion - just a handful of troopers left to do and the basing I decided to also complement them with a staff officer type figure Lt-Col Klicki was commander of the Vistula Legion cavalry in the peninsular and served in Russia. I had a spare French guard lancer officer figure ("Connoisseur" I think)  in the lead pile, so decided to create one from that.

I have added a flattened pin sword, replaced the cast sword knots with wire and soldered in place. I then filed off the ends of the cast racket & cords on the czapka and remade these from 3 strands of copper wire (from am old piece of household appliance flex) braided together &  wrapped around the plume and soldered in place. The racket is made by wrapping the braided wires around the end of a round needle file to create a doughnut which is then filled in with solder filling. the cord is then positioned in place as if flying loose & tinned with solder to stiffen it place. I also added wire reins. The secret to all this small scale soldering - liquid flux - Bakers No 3. The horse is an "Elite miniatures" one which was completed in the big batch done in the summer.

The blue used is the Andrea Color blue clothes set . A really excellent set of paint shades that work well.

  

I added a spare shako to groundworks as well Overall very pleased with him.

A few riflemen

I have been working on a variety of things this last few weeks. I have been painting some figures I have not done before which are the Trent Miniatures 5/60th Rifles. They were very pleasant to paint. Nice clean crisp castings. These figures do not have backpacks, coats etc ether so not cluttered. Usual dark grey undercoat and then I used the Andrea Green paint ACS09 set and the odd bit of Vallejo Flat Green. The Andrea Color sets give a very subtle change of hue as they give you a dark base coat and then 3 light shades , and then 2 darker shades, the idea is to mix two together each time. it gives a really good effect. They do dry darker however, and as these were to be gloss varnished they need a little extra lift hence using a little Vallejo Green just to lift the overall effect with the varnish

Also a handful of mounted French officers. One of which was an Elite Miniatures Collectors series. This had separate scabbard and reins. Really not sure of the overall value of these to the average collector. I end up replacing the cast reins with some home made ones , I think they looked better as well.

I also took delivery of some of the newer 1815 range of Perry miniatures French command sets. I am not a great fan of Perry stuff as in the past it has all been to me a bit small overall. I was pleasantly surprised by these. There are some some really good story telling sets. The Chief of staff wrting orders, the ADC's waiting and the hangers-on (FN53) pictured here.

 
.  For now they can be added to lead pile. I have completed casting work on about half the Vistula lancers , so hopefully they will be ready for painting some time in October.

Repairs to an old friend. "Prince Eugene"

This week has been mainly spent working on preparing the next lot of projects. I picked up an old friend at my last visit to the WHC, who has seen much duty over the years. However he has picked up a few war wounds along the way, the horse was broken from its base, his plume was gone, his sword was broken off too. I would swear someone has stood on it!  I asked Doug Mason to repair the horse  with solder from the base to the knee joint of both hind legs. He also created the plume from solder. I was able to sort the sword out re soldering it. I then had to try and match painting that was 30 years old. Mainly used humbrols and a bit of a khaki wash to add a little ageing prior to the gloss varnish. Overall I think he is ready for duty again.
 
I seems this was an original Peter Gilder creation and still looks great. The base figure is Willie figure I am informed with the head being a PG creation as is the horse (thanks Phil for info)

Talking of the WHC. I also found an old photo from 1990. This was the invitation game held on the 175th Anniversary of Waterloo. With Peter Gilder leading the French against Mike Ingham's Brits. I was on the French side and we got a good drubbing!

Rear (Brits) - Mark Freeth, Andy Moorhouse, Mike Ingham , Ricard Harris , Steve Shann
Front (French) Me! ,Chris Flowers, Simon Clark, Doug Mason, Paul Williamson, Peter Gilder.
(Thanks to Tony Dillon & Richard Harris for clearing up a few names )

Peter was in a wheelchair at the time suffering with the motor-neurone disease that he succumbed to later that year. I think this was his last game. I was even helping to feed him. I know it was certainly sad seeing him like that. But he enjoyed himself as we all did. 


And here are another couple of Vistula legion lancer conversions completed ready for painting.

 Trumpeter crashing to the ground, hands flailing, trumpet flying loose - in my minds eye I see the canister striking!

Officer about to crash his sabre down upon his foe, drawing his arm back & leaning into the blow. The sword scabbard is flying loose on its belts, His boots are dug into the horses side for more purchase . The horse is turned to that side pulling on it reins  too. Mane and tail are reworked with the soldering iron for more movement.

A new Napoleon

I have had some new figures arrive last week. The revolutionary wars generals set from CP Models. So time for a new Napoleon. A really nice figure to paint. I also took delivery of some new paints. Acrylic paint sets by "Andrea"  - Blues, Reds, Greens. They give a base shade and complimentary range of differing lighter and dark shades you can use straight from the bottle. They are strongly pigmented and cover really well. Not a cheap item but I can highly recommend them. I sourced mine from Historex Agents in Dover , one of my long time suppliers. They arrived promptly as usual.

I also decided to crack on with the French Light Infantry unit that has been undercoated and blocked for a while. I used the Andrea blues set again here too.

They are on bigger bases than usual to represent a more open order formation. They are an "Elite Miniatures" unit in campaign dress.

 

In addition I have been working on the Vistula legion lancers castings. I have been to see the master of the soldering iron Doug Mason (NEW BLOG SPOT!) for a bit of a refresher masterclass.A true artistic genius. I felt like Luke to his Yoda. Here is one of them - horse completely repositioned tail and mane reworked,wire reins added, rider arm repositioned, lance added, pennant from brass sheet.

Looking forward to painting these guys. I have about 18 more castings to prepare yet though.

Oh and the Colonial stuff has turned up! choices choices...

Polish & Bavarian Commanders

I have had very little painting time this week as I have been travelling in the day job, and called in at Marks WHC on Sat/Sun  to check out the new Arnhem game set up. I was cajoled into calling in the Allied air power - rolling Double 6 - 4 times out 5 Yes the dice were examined and proceeded to roll 2's for other people.  So  anyway I decided to complete a few more command stands last night that had previously been undercoated. (Usual Humbrol Tank Grey 67)

Two Polish divisional generals. Both by "Front Rank" again very nice castings. I used "Front Rank" horses  this time as I felt the riders pose went well with their walking horses , so I chose one with head up and one head down. These has been completed in the last big horse batch. As per previous Poles I used Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue , and lightening from there with Flat blue mix. These were finished in Matt varnish for their new home. Again this did mean a slight refresh of the metallic once that had dried.

The Bavarian General is again "Front Rank". This time he is a bit more animated. Looking through the completed horse batch there was an old "Connoisseur" heavy horse that I thought he looked really good on, so the two were paired. The basic block colour was Vallejo Flat Blue which was highlighted up gradually and finished with top highlights of Andrea Blue (70841). After the Matt varnish I again refreshed top highlights and metallic.

As for this week I have had a project bumped up the painting table with the arrival of castings from "Bicorne" of  a 20+ piece set for a French Guard Band. They look interesting and fun to do - a nice wounded pair singing along included. Plus more work on the castings for the Vistula Legion Lancers that are in progress.

General Dabrowski & ADC

I have been working on preparing castings mainly this week, but I have been able to complete another Polish command stand to give Prince Poniatowski someone to command. General Dabrowski and an ADC figure both by "Front Rank" - really good crisp castings a pleasure to paint. Dabrowski's horse is an old favourite light horse by "Connoisseur" and the ADC's is an "Elite"one.  I wanted the stand to tell a picture of the ADC having just galloped in and pulled his horse up and the look of an animated conversation. I think it has been achieved with the choice of figures and horses and how they are placed on the base. The horses were completed in the last big batch so they were all ready waiting for a project to come along. I did however have to add a saddlecloth and saddle made from Milliput to the Elite horse (took about 5 mins to do) as the ADC casting comes without one and would normally require a S1 type Front rank horse.

The blue used for main colours is a Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue (70899) which is highlighted with with a mix of the DPB and Flat Blue. The Polish crimson is created with Humbrol 73 (wine) as a base then highlighted with a 73 and Matt white (34) mix.

Silver used is Vallejo Model air silver as it it flows easily and works well on fine detailing. This was highlighted a little with a sligh mix of white in to too. Faces and flesh tones as per my usual 4 colour method.

More castings work this week as busy preparing a Vistula Legion lancer regiment and a Dutch Belgian Hussar regiment.

Some British

This last week I have been working on horses and completed 32 of them various browns and a few whites. The warm weather has helped to speed the oil drying time.I was even able to varnish them as well. I usually have a few command figures on the paint board at any time as they can be easily dipped in and out of and one of these has been completed as well. A British command stand with a mounted infantry officer and a mounted highland Black Watch officer.(who has a suitably stern look on his face!)

The riders are both "Front Rank"  as is the far officers horse. The highlanders horse is an Elite miniatures. I was in Hereford recently on my travels and I came across a really great model & railway shop The Hereford Model Centre (they are online too). The kind of place you rarely find these days a real Alladins cave and.with friendly knowledgable staff.  I picked up a range of supplies including the "grass" used on this base . Made by  Noch and marketed by Gaugemaster - Code 192 Rough Grass Beige. It comes in a matting form about 9 inches by 7" and is about 1/3 inch thick (it was not the cheapest item  - it was about £7 for the pack but it will last a good while) . It can be cut or just torn to shape. I think it gives a really good look for dried out grass/scrubland. It was attached to the plywood base using white PVA prior to adding the sand and stones mix. I was very happy with the finish.

Prince Poniatowski & ADC

After a few weeks of completing larger units it was time to do something from the "for my enjoyment" collection of metal. I bought some Front Rank command figures earlier in the year and really liked the look of these two and had some good reference library pictures to work from. I decided to stick with Front Rank horses. (I don't mind the light horses standing or walking - not so keen on the faster moving lighter ones or any heavier ones though - it's a personal taste thing). I looked through the horses completed earlier , but found i was going to need one of their S1 type with cast on saddle cloth for the ADC which only came with part sheepskin saddle . I did not have one of those already completed so decided just to add a saddle cloth to a completed one from a small amount of thinly rolled out Milliput (a two part putty that is easily worked into shape). This was shaped with some sculpting tools and a scalpel blade. Took about 5 minutes to do.

The rest was a simple paint job. Undercoated the figures in Humbrol 67 (Tank Grey).

Poniatowski - Has a large fur cloak on , this was blocked in Vallejo flat brown and then drybrushed lighter shades by mixing with Khaki and white until happy with the effect. His tunic was blocked Dark Prussian blue, then highlighted with a Medium blue/Flat blue mix.  The polish crimson trousers were blocked Humbrol 73 to start , then had a little white 34 added and used to highlight knee tops and creases etc. Czapka top was to be white with a cross on and then additional line detail added - this was blocked light grey first. Face as per usual. Various chords etc were added using a Vallejo Model Air Silver - this is thinner and i find it easier to use for small fine detail - as this usually involves using it in dots or dabs to suggest or pick out detail rather than just paint it all. His horse was a standing one which i had bent the head slightly before painting.

ADC-  the main block colour was Humbrol 73 (Wine) which was then over painted to gradually highlight with Vallejo Red, Flat Red, Scarlet. . Shako was blocked Vallejo Medium Blue, and highlighted with Flat blue , and hint of white then added to that as well.

They were finished in proper varnish - Gloss!

It is always important to keep the creative enjoyment going , and doing these helped.



I also completed a small screen of Connoisseur Brunswick skirmishers to add to the two battalions completed a little earlier. These were a very simple grey paint job , just a case of highlighting up after undercoating (Humbrol 67) with a Vallejo Neutral Gray and a bit of light grey really then piping facing colours and muskets. Faces as usual. I added some bit of beech branch to bases to give a more interesting effect (I now remember why i did not cut down the beech hedge.. good for nicking bits for basing!). They were based in pairs, one firing one moving,

These took about 30 minutes to complete.

Vive l'empereur!

Almost, more accurately "First Consul" , in "Crossing the Alps" in 1800. I have had this figure in bare form for at least 10 years. If I remember correctly this was a limited edition low number release from Wargames Foundary for a charity support appeal.

It is a two part casting with the top half of Napoleon with cape as one part and bottom part and the horse as another. These two I decided to drill and pin together for security. The horse had its two front feet cut free as it is fairly sturdy so should should be OK unless handled carelessly.


Very few of the colours used here are straight out of the pot as I wanted to really work on it. so lots of little shades and highlights. For the cape colour I went for a more utilitarian brown shade rather than the variety of reds, and oranges etc which reference research seem to show.

The only really fiddly bit was the wild staring eyes on the horse, created by making the whole eyeball white and ensuring that when the black centre was added white was left showing . It seemed to work effectively.

Too many chiefs?

Well , I have a British Guards unit on the painting board for April and while I was rooting around in the pile of unpainted metal at the weekend I came across a part painted British general and decided to pair him with a horse that was finished 10 years ago. With a little bit of work this morning I was able to finish the combination. The general is from "Front Rank" The horse was an "Elite miniatures" but with some conversion work as both front feet off the ground as if about to jump. To help support the casting when used on the "battlefield"  I had inserted a pin underneath the horse & into to the base which  is then hidden within  the added grasswork (my usual teased out sisal string). So now all I need to do is paint the chap some guys to command.

Total time to complete 2 hours .. plus the 10 years from actually starting it.

Picking up those brushes again.

So rooting through the mass of unpainted metal in the back of the store cupboard. I came across some old figures and decided to finish them.


First off the stocks a 28mm "Elite miniatures" French Cuirassier general.Some basic conversion work carried out, adding a flattened pin sword to replace the thick cast one. The horses reins are replaced with flattened wire and soldered into position. The horses head is turned to the side with a little pressure applied with pliers, and a little working of the mane and tail with the soldering iron too.

White horses. I had forgotten the challenge here. Started with a light grey undercoat (Humbrol 64). Then a very heavy dry brush of pure white. Once dried I then painted in an Off white (Vallejo acrylic)  over the top of the muscles areas. A wash of  yellow ochre (Vallejo - thinned with water)  was applied all over and allowed to dry. Then a dapple can be applied by spotting pure white over the flanks and chest area.  Black socks added and dry brushed. Sounds a lot of work , but the whole figure took less than two hours overall which is fine for a "special"

Doing his job - leading a division of Cuirassier at the WHC.